I've been working out with a few partners lately and have been noticing different methods of push ups being done. I do my push ups with my elbows close to my body. My partner does his push ups with his hands and elbows further out. They look like two completely different push ups! Which one is the correct form to be utilizing?

With the elbows farther out from the body you're targeting your pecs and if you keep your elbows closer to your sides you'll target your triceps more. If you have a bodybuilding background you'll probably do pushups like benchpresses, with your elbows out, if you have a gymnastics background or want to pursue gymnastic exercises you should probably keep your elbows close so you can work up to doing a planche:

Awesome, scumdogg cleared it up perfectly. Thanks guys. I think I'm going to incorporate your strategy as well and mix it up now and then.

Wowza, the planche looks very difficult. I am still struggling with learning to hold regular handstands. I do not use the wall to support myself because I've tried it a few times, got scared and bailed on my head. Definitely something I would also like to be able to do in the future.

The push up picture I used is leaves a little to be desired as the elbows are out to far imho, I think push ups with elbow in are biomechanically better and build a better foundation for dips, hand stand push ups and the planche. That said variety is good as stated above and always listen to your body, don't force stuff.

splint wrote:I do elbows out like bench presses where my arms make a "T" with my body.

Pushups are generally fine like that because they are low intensity. You should NOT bench like that though as "elbows flared" has a tendency to produce scapular and rotator cuff problems.

I always benched with elbows flared and in fact I hit my PR that way. Several years ago, I read what you said here, that basically I've been doing them incorrectly. I made a conscious effort to put my elbows at about a 45 degree angle. I did it that way for a few years up until I started having elbow pain.

I have no idea whether they're related or not, I think probably not but I never had any problems with my elbows flared out either.

However, I did notice that when I do heavy dumbell presses, I naturally assume the 45 degree angle.